Acne

The Facts on Acne

Acne is an inflammation of the skin that causes blackheads, whiteheads, and red spots usually called "pimples" or "zits." The most common type of acne is acne vulgaris (vulgaris means common). Acne appears most often on the face, but can also be a nuisance on your chest, back, and upper arms. Acne affects about 90% of adolescents as well as 20% to 30% of individuals aged 20 to 40 years. It accounts for more doctor visits than any other skin problem.

Acne isn't life-threatening, but it can be upsetting and disfiguring and cause psychosocial problems. Acne can also lead to serious and permanent scarring.

Causes of Acne

Acne develops because your sebaceous glands are overactive. These glands normally produce small amounts of sebum, which is a thick mixture of oil and skin cells. When you have acne, these glands go into overproduction and the extra sebum can block your follicles and bacteria can move in, particularly the species called Propionibacterium acnes.

Hormones can cause an outbreak of pimples, or increase the number you get. The hormones that are active during puberty also trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. The hormones with the greatest effect on the oil glands are the androgens, the male hormones. Both men and women have androgens, but men have more.

In women, these hormones can also cause acne during the menstrual cycle, and that's why women often find that acne continues into adulthood. Hormones found in some types of birth control pills can also cause flare-ups of acne.

Eating junk food and chocolate normally has nothing to do with acne. Greasy hair and skin also doesn't cause acne, but they're often a sign of overactive sebaceous glands, which can cause acne. Research suggests that stress may worsen existing acne, but it doesn't cause it.

A tendency to get acne can run in families. It's more common among Caucasians than Asians or people of African descent.

Things that irritate your skin can also cause acne. These include:

rubbing or friction from your clothes

contact with a dog's tongue (e.g., after a friendly lick)

skin contact with certain sports equipment

certain cosmetics

skin exposure to extreme temperatures

Taking corticosteroid medications can also cause an acne-like condition.

Symptoms and Complications of Acne

Acne symptoms vary from person to person. They include:

blackheads (black spots the size of a pinhead) are open right on the surface of your skin (superficial) and don't leave scars

whiteheads or pustules, the most common type of acne, are usually the first lesions people get - they don't turn black because they're not exposed to the air

deep acne can be more severe - it's usually red, inflamed, filled with pus, and painful to touch

Deep acne often appears on the back and chest. It's usually the most difficult type of acne to treat and may leave scarring. Deep acne includes pustules and cysts, both of which can appear on the skin's surface. Some, however, are deep in the layers of the skin. If they burst, the pus that's released will cause more lesions.

Deep acne can lead to scarring. Picking at or squeezing the pimples often leaves a pitted appearance that may or may not be permanent. Scarring is more common in men because deep acne affects more men than women.

The contents of this site are for informational purposes only and are meant to be discussed with your physician or other qualified health care professional before being acted on. Never disregard any advice given to you by your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Always seek the advice of a physician or other licensed health care professional regarding any questions you have about your medical condition(s) and treatment(s). This site is not a substitute for medical advice.